Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
I cringe. I’m not proud of how things happened with Samantha, and obviously, if I could re-do that part of my life, I would.
“How long were you married?” Faith asks.
“It depends on how you count. I immediately knew it was a mistake the next morning after I sobered up, and so we were never together together, if that’s what you’re asking. Our separation began that day in fact. Maybe we shared a suite for a little while in Monaco while we got the divorce paperwork prepared, but then I was off to my next tournament and we never saw each other again. I had the divorce documents mailed to me, and I honestly had no idea what happened to Samantha afterwards. She’d told me she was a hairdresser, so I figured she went back to her old life.”
Faith nods.
“So Samantha came back to Minnesota, and you went on with your life, competing in tournaments around the world.”
I nod miserably.
“Yeah, pretty much. It was basically a European-style Vegas wedding. I’m not proud of it, but I can’t deny that it happened either. To be honest, it was so short that sometimes I forget I was ever married.”
Faith turns to look at me then, her eyes sharp.
“Is that something you just ‘happened’ to forget to tell me?”
I hold up one hand.
“I didn’t forget. I mentioned I’d had a six-second marriage back in the day, but that it was over before it even began. I never thought that my ex-wife would be your mother.”
Faith thinks for a moment.
“So it’s just a coincidence that you ended up in Medina?”
I take a deep breath. This is where the shit is going to hit the fan.
“No, not exactly,” I confess. “I remembered that Samantha was from Medina, but I didn’t come back to find her. It just so happens that there are some amazing slopes in this part of the world, and I’m tired of the tournament life. I wanted to settle down, and when the real estate broker happened to mention that there were some great homes for sale here, I figured I’d take a look. Then, I found my house and fell in love with it. We closed within days, actually.”
Faith looks at me.
“And did you think you’d run into Samantha?”
I take another deep breath, keeping my voice even.
“No. Yes. I don’t know. It’s a small town, and I suspected that Samantha would be here, but I never sought her out, nor was I looking to bump into her. What’s done is done, and it’s best left in the past. Besides, I met you, honey, and never in a million years did I think that you were related to Samantha. You don’t look like her, and besides, there are so many women named Samantha in the world. I couldn’t have put two and two together, even if I wanted to.”
Faith is silent, and my heart starts pounding. What if she doesn’t believe me? What if she thinks I’m lying, and actually came back with the intention of getting back together with her mom? Even worse, what if she believes me, but it doesn’t matter because the situation is too twisted? A lump forms in my throat, and to my horror, tears prick my eyes. I’m going to lose it if Faith leaves me, but I wouldn’t blame the beautiful woman one iota.
Meanwhile, it takes Faith a few moments to absorb this information. She chews her lip, looking out over a grassy knoll.
“I’m really sorry, Faith,” I say in a rush. “If I’d known…”
“You never would’ve dated me?”
I shake my head, still miserable. “No, I wouldn’t say that. I would date you no matter what. I think we just would have gotten ahead of this news, so that we didn’t attend the worst wedding in the world.”
Faith laughs lightly, and the sound gives me hope. “I feel kind of bad for Georgie. He seemed like a decent guy, to be honest, even if he’s half my mom’s age.”
I straighten a bit at the humor in my girlfriend’s tone. Maybe things will be okay after all.
“He did seem pretty nice. I’m sure he’ll be okay.”
Faith sighs.
“Yeah. It’s a shame that Sam’s got her claws into such good guy, but I guess that’s her special skill. She’s the kind of woman who makes men fall for her left and right, and it’s been like this her entire life.”
The resignation in Faith’s voice kills me.
“I didn’t fall for her. You have to know that, Faith. It was a drunken, manipulative wedding and the only reason we stayed married during that brief time in Monaco was because I was organizing the divorce paperwork. Otherwise, it was a nothing marriage. Blink, and it was over.”
Faith looks down again.
“I hear you,” she says in a low voice. “It’s sad to say, but Samantha’s definitely capable of doing something like that. Besides, my mom has always been vague about her past husbands, and really, all I knew was that she’s been hitched a lot.”